3 County Chase Ends With Wreck And Felony Arrest
A 3 county chase concluded Monday night with a wreck and felony arrest, according to sheriff’s deputies.
The vehicle pursuit reportedly began at 9:06 p.m. November 23, 2020 on State Highway 19 south in Hopkins County when Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Drew Fisher attempted to stop a 2020 Ford Mustang for a traffic violation.
Instead of stopping for officers, the driver continued north into Delta County. Deputies pursued the car through Delta County and into Lamar County into the city limits of Paris. The deputy had to stop to refuel, but but Lamar County Sheriff’s deputies continued to the pursuit.
Lamar County deputies successfully deployed “stop sticks” on the car, which continued traveling on Highway 271 north until it wrecked out into the ditch with two flat tires around 9:49 p.m. Nov. 23.
Fisher had finished fueling and arrived at the crash site to find a woman detained in handcuffs by a Lamar County patrol unit. Lamar County officers transported her to Lamar County jail, where she was arraigned, then transported to Hopkins County jail.
The woman, identified in arrest reports as Jessica Ashley Mannino, was found to have initially given deputies an incorrect date of birth. She allegedly gave officers a date in 1986 when asked for her birthday, but later was found to have actually been born on a different day and month in 1992. Mannino, who is also known by Jessica Ashley Rodriguez and Jessica Rodriguez-Mannino, reportedly refused to provide an address or city of residence when asked.
The 28-year-old woman was booked into Hopkins County jail at 2 a.m. Nov. 24 on a felony evading arrest or detention with a vehicle charge and a failure to identify charge.
Mannino remained in Hopkins County jail late Tuesday morning, Nov. 24. Bond was set at $20,000 on the evading arrest charge and $1,000 on the failure to identify charge.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Veterans Memorial Receives Donation From Alliance Bank
Tom Sellers, Alliance Bank President/CEO, presents a $1,000 donation, in lieu of a public customer appreciation event, to (left) Danny Davis of the Hopkins County Veterans Memorial.
Star Gazing and Dark Skies at Cooper Lake State Park!
Experience Dark Skies and the Cosmos at Cooper Lake State Park!
Cooper, TX— When was the last time you stopped to gaze into the heavens at night? For most Americans, the once common activity is now no more than a distant cultural memory, or maybe an unsatisfying upward glance towards a fussy glow with maybe a dozen stars and planets visible: Not an awe-inspiring experience. Rewind a hundred years and in most locations on the continent you could see untold thousands of stars with the dense band of the Milky Way visible. In the past, humans, had an unimpeded view and connection to the night skies; our constant companion since the beginning of our species. We are intertwined with the stars in so many ways most of us don’t truly understand. Our distant lineages have told and passed down constellation stories, creating cultural connections for thousands of years. Today, less than 20% of Americans have access to seeing the Milky Way on a moonless night. Once something as common to our collective heritage is taken away (slowly and subtly) we are all poorer in spirit and have less of a connection to our natural world. But wait, all is not lost! We still have locations scattered throughout the U.S. that have a window into the cosmos and to our shared past that we can experience. And you guessed it! Cooper Lake State Park is one of those special places.
Cooper Lake State Park is still a great place to view the heavens. Situated less than 100 miles from Dallas – Fort Worth and several smaller cities which makes our impressive, special dark skies easily accessible! All night skies can be rated based on impact from artificial interfering light. This system is based on the Bortle scale which classifies night skies from grade of 1 which is the darkest of the dark. These are prehistory dark skies – what our kind would have seen 10,000 years ago around a campfire. Texas State Parks has one of those incredibly rare locations – Big Bend Ranch State Park. Cooper Lake State Park is a 3 on the scale. Cities throughout the US are usually an 8-9 grade with about a dozen visible stars.
The biggest threat to the night sky is thoughtless use of outdoor lighting. Not all outdoor lighting is created equal. Outdoor lighting is critical for safety. The key to providing lighting for human safety without impacting the quality of our night skies is relatively simple, and Cooper Lake State Park has implemented these measures and can be a blueprint for others to follow. By no means did the park develop these measures alone, but through information provided by the International Dark Sky Association. Here are several key points to incorporate for new outdoor lighting or for the conversion of existing lights:
- Use only shielded full cutoff fixtures. These reduce glare which is a vision-killer and also focuses light to where it is actually needed.
- Use only the amount of light that is minimally required for your needs. Reduce wattages and numbers of fixtures. (Saving money on electricity as a biproduct)
- Use only warm lighting which is defined as 3000o Kelvin or less. These lights are more yellow in color.
- Utilize motion sensors where applicable. Provide light only when needed.
At Cooper Lake State Park, we have replaced our parking lot lights with warm 3000o Kelvin LED bulbs. In addition, we modified these fixtures to focus light and eliminate glare. Also, we reduced the number of lighted fixtures by 70% providing minimal but adequate illumination for safety. We replaced all sidewalk shielded fixtures with 1700o Kelvin yellow bulbs. We replaced all exterior building lights with warm 1700o to 2500o Kelvin yellowish bulbs.
December is going to be the best month of the year for star gazing! As the nighttime temperature drops, so does the humidity in the air. Drier air makes for clearer star gazing. The centerpiece event for the month and for 2020 is the Geminids Meteor Shower that runs from December 11th– peaking overnight on December 13th and 14th. Colorful long meteor tails are predicted. To make the viewing the best it can be is that the celestial event occurs during the new moon phase which means no moon to wash away the darkness. All star gazers and meteor hunters are welcome to stay overnight in our day – use areas to view this phenomenon. An additional activity fee is required per person for those staying after 10 pm nightly. This is important because the very best viewing usually occurs after midnight.
Cooper Lake State Park entrance fees are $5 for adults; kids 12 and under always free (additional $2 activity fee for day-users staying after 10pm to fish or star gaze). Senior Texans 65 or older will only pay $3 to enter the park daily with a Bluebonnet Pass. Unlimited park entrances for you and everyone in your vehicle can be accomplished with the purchase of a Texas State Park Annual Pass for $70, which is good for over 12 months (Annual Pass does not cover overnight activity fees). Buy your pass and let your Texas adventure begin!
For more information on the park, please visit and like our Facebook pages (Cooper Lake State Park – South Sulphur (903)-945-5256 and Cooper Lake State Park – Doctors Creek (903) 395-3100).
Nov. 23 COVID-19 Update: 22 In Hospital COVID Unit, Changes In Case Reporting
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials in the Nov. 23 COVID-19 update reported a whopping 22 patients in the COVID unit at the hospital and a change in state COVID-19 case reporting.
Texas Department of State Health Services, as of Sunday, Nov. 22, will no long be providing daily updates to county officials, HC/SSEM reported in the Nov. 23 COVID-19 update. No new positive cases nor new recoveries were noted by HC/SSEM. Thus, the case counts reported Nov. 23 by HC/SSEM were the same as reported on Friday: 779 cumulative cases, 622 recoveries and 157 active case.
On the daily COVID-19 dashboard posted by DSHS at 3:35 p.m. Nov. 23, very few counties showed any changes in new case counts. The Texas COVID-19 New Confirmed Cases By County report showed no new cases for Hopkins County on Monday, but eight new cases over the weekend — three on Saturday and five on Sunday. That, according to DSHS, increases the cumulative COVID-19 case count for Hopkins County since March to be 798. The total equals an average of 21.54 cases per 1,000 people in Hopkins County, according to the DSHS Nov. 23 County Trends report.
The DSHS Fatalities over Time by County report shows no update since Nov. 22. At that time, the fatality count continued to be the 51 COVID-19 deaths reported for Hopkins County on Nov. 21.
The DSHS COVID-19 “Estimated Recoveries by County dashboard on Nov. 23 showed 691 COVID-19 recoveries for Hopkins County, 69 more than were last reported by HC/SSEM on Friday.
The active case count reported by DSHS on Nov. 23 for Hopkins County was 56 for Nov. 22-23.
Another 120 COVID-19 tests were performed Saturday, Nov. 21, at the testing site at 128-A Jefferson St. in Sulphur Springs. That makes 534 free molecular COVID-19 tests conducted at the location in the last week and 1,593 this month. Overall, that makes 3.986 tests conducted since the site opened on Sept. 25, HC/SSEM reported in the Nov. 23 COVID-19 update.
Molecular testing will continue to be offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays in November. Register online at www.GoGetTested.com for the oral swab test.
Hospital Reports
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials in their Nov. 23 COVID-19 update did report a patient count of 22 in the COVID Unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs on Nov. 23.
The patient count in the COVID unit at CMFH-SS has remained 10 or above since Oct. 26, and has so far this month has not been less than 13 patients. Monday’s patient count sets a new record since the HC/SSEM has been reporting hospital COIVD unit statistics in August. The numbers have continued to rise over from 15 on Nov. 17 to 17 on Nov. 18 and 19, 19 patients on Nov. 20 and 22 patients Monday.
In Trauma Service Area F, which includes hospital from Texarkana to Hopkins County, there were 1,042 staffed hospital beds and 950 total staffed inpatient beds on Monday, which is less than the last 4 week days.
DSHS also reported there were 602 total hospitalizations, including 142 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients in hospitals in Area F on Nov. 23. COVID-19 hospitalizations account for 13.64 percent of all hospitalizations out of the total hospital capacity in TSA Area F, which remains below the 15 percent threshold which the state considers high hospitalizations if a TSA exceeds for 7 consecutive days, per Executive Order GA-32.
That leaves available throughout Area F as of the DSHS report at 3:40 p.m. Monday 348 hospital beds, 11 ICU beds and 75 ventilators, according to the DSHS data.
Across the state, there were 8,353 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals as of the Nov. 23 report.
| Trauma Service Area F Categories | Nov. 17, 2020 Counts | Nov. 18, 2020 Counts | Nov. 19, 2020 Counts | Nov. 20, 2020 Counts | Nov. 23, 2020 Counts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population Estimate 2020 | 273,329 | 273,329 | 273,329 | 273,329 | 273,329 |
| Total Staffed Hospital Beds | 1,057 | 1,075 | 1,110 | 1,111 | 1,041 |
| Available Hospital Beds | 364 | 364 | 375 | 387 | 348 |
| Available ICU Beds | 11 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 11 |
| Available Ventilators | 75 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 75 |
| Lab-Confirmed COVID-19 Patients in Hospital | 139 | 138 | 149 | 148 | 142 |
| Total Staffed Inpatient Beds | 966 | 984 | 1,019 | 1,020 | 950 |
HHS COVID-19 Reports
Very little change was reported at Sulphur Springs nursing facilities from Nov. 6 to Nov. 9, the most recent COVID-19 data available from Texas Health and Human Services for nursing facilities. The only active employee COVID-19 case reported Nov. 6 at Sunny Springs Nursing & Rehab had recovered from the virus on Nov. 9, according to the Nov. 23 HHS nursing facility report.
Carriage House continued to have 1 active employee case and two active resident COVID-19 cases on Nov. 9. Rock Creek Health and Rehabilitation reported 1 resident still had COVID-19 on Nov. 9. Sulphur Springs Health and Rehabilitation reported 14 employees and 13 resident still had the virus on Nov. 9, according to the Nov. 23 HHS nursing facility report.
Wesley House reported that one employee had tested positive for COVID-19 and actively had the virus on Nov. 9, HHS reported in the Nov. 23 assisted living facility report.
There were no active cases of COVID-19 in students or staff reported by the six licensed child care centers, school-age programs, and before- or after-school programs in Sulphur Springs on Nov. 20, according to the Nov. 23 HHS report.
During the Year 2020, Many Different Parts of Agriculture Became Challenged by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas
During the year 2020, many different parts of agriculture became challenged either because lack of distribution or lack of workforce. As we celebrate our thanksgiving, we can see the importance of food and food supply in our society. There are many phases of a very complicate system that interact to make a meal in a consumer’s table a reality. All the components of the system are critical and if one just “misses” its target the complete system can collapse. One component of the meat production system is veterinary care. Today, many rural large animal practices are operated by older vets, and younger veterinary professionals are going to pet care because it’s more lucrative, said Tom Hairgrove, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service cattle veterinary specialist in the Texas A&M University Department of Animal Science. That could result in the reduction of rural large animal practices.“ We know livestock enterprises are major contributors to rural communities,” Hairgrove said. “We want to improve the communication and cooperation between the livestock industry and the veterinary profession to ultimately improve livestock health and economic sustainability for rural communities.” New strategies implemented recently will try to overcome this problem. The “Improving the Sustainability of Rural Veterinarians Through Mentoring, Targeted Education, Telemedicine and Monitoring of Disease Syndromes” project, funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant will try to do so. The goal of the project is to shift producer utilization of rural practitioners from a reactionary approach to one of comprehensive herd health practices that can help prevent metabolic diseases, respiratory and reproductive diseases. By doing so, the practitioner becomes a greater asset to producers. “Veterinarians responding in a ‘fire engine’ manner simply is no longer practical,” Hairgrove said. “We need livestock producers to realize that veterinarians can contribute more to their operation profits if a comprehensive health management program is developed. ”A first step can be utilizing the local vet to focus on proper stocking rates, forage and herd management to eliminate overstocking of forage systems, he said. “We believe if we can change producer mindset to one of ‘complete herd health’ instead of only calling the vet to periodically pull a calf, it will be good not only for the veterinarian and the economics of the rural communities but to the producer’s bottom line as well,” he said. “We know veterinarians can make producers money by helping them develop vaccination programs and by working with them to outline nutrition programs to improve their calving and weaning rates,” said Ron Gill, Texas AgriLife Extension Services beef cattle specialist. But if ranchers do not engage with and employ the services of rural veterinarians, the vet practice will not be sustainable, and the producers won’t realize that additional benefit.” As we move into to celebrate our thanksgiving I invite you to reflect in all the different components that made your celebration possible, including yourself, and those health care professional looking after human and animal health.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please call the Hopkins County Extension Office in Hopkins County by calling 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Hopkins County Extension
Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas
75482 903-885-3443
Sherman Makes Plays Down the Stretch to Top Wildcats Basketball Team 62-59
The Wildcats Basketball Team hosted Sherman Monday afternoon and the two teams exchanged the lead throughout the game but the Bearcats made more plays down the stretch to come away with a 62-59 win in the Main Gym at Sulphur Springs High School. Sherman outscored the Wildcats 18-15 in the fourth quarter to get the win. The Bearcats had four players in double figures in scoring led by sophomore Vontrelle Sanders who led all scorers with 16 points. Wildcats senior point guard Lamodrick Johnson led the Wildcats with 15 points. Senior guard Boo Wilkerson and sophomore post Kordrick Turner both scored 11 points for the Wildcats. Senior guard Malique Cole and junior forward Justin Haire both scored 7 points. It was Haire’s first game back from an injury. Caleb Alexander hit two three-point baskets for 6 points. Junior Cason Arrington has 2 points. The two teams were tied after one quarter, 14-14. Sherman led by three at halftime, 32-29. The two teams were tied again at 44-44 after three quarters. Sherman improved their season record to 2-1. The Wildcats slip to 1-3. The Wildcats play Wednesday at 4 p.m. against Dallas Lincoln at PC Cobb Center in Dallas.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Says Team Played Well Friday in Bi-District Win
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Bailey Dorner admits to going into Friday night’s bi-district contest against Tyler a little worried that her team may come into the game underestimating their opponent. After all, the district champ Lady Cats were the #1 seed against #4 seed Tyler.
Turns out Coach Dorner had nothing to worry about. Her team promptly took care of business defeating Tyler, 3-0 by the score of 25-14, 25-14 and 25-7.
She says her team showed up and played well in all areas. Coach Dorner liked her team’s serve and serve receive. She singled out junior middle blocker Brooklynn Burnside for special praise noting that she had an amazing game. Burnside led the team in kills and blocks.
Now, the Lady Cats face North Forney in an Area contest Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Royse City. Coach Dorner says the Lady Falcons are athletic and scrappy. She says they dropped the first set of their bi-district match against Joshua, but just continued on like nothing had happened. Coach Dorner says North Forney has a couple of girls on the front row that are athletic and know where to hit the ball.
The Lady Cats are 15-7 for the season. The Lady Falcons, third in their district, come in 16-5.
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta Says Team Played Pretty Well In Friday Night Loss
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta found himself in an unusual place Monday morning, Nov. 23. Coach Cipoletta says he is not used to talking about his team playing pretty well, but losing.
His evidence includes 1.16 point per possession for his team. In fact, he says the Wildcats played outstanding ball and shot well on the offensive end. He says the Wildcats were at 42% in three point shooting and hit 85% of their free throws.
Coach Cipaletta does say the Wildcats need to find a way to make more stops and he adds they need to just improve overall on defense. He is confident they can get to where they need to be.
The Wildcats were playing without their experienced post player Justin Haire. Haire was out with an injury but, is returning Monday.
Coach Cipoletta says the Wildcats led at McKinney Boyd Friday for three quarters of the game until the Broncos erupted for a three-point filled fourth quarter to win, 71-64. He calls the loss a learning experience. He says he schedules Class 6A playoff caliber teams so his team can see what works and to determine what needs to be worked on.
The Wildcats are 1-2 and, Coach Cip says, he is already tired of losing. The Wildcats play at home Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. against Sherman.
He says the Bearcats have two elite guards. One scored over 50 points last year against Mount Pleasant. The second had about 30 points this season against Denton Braswell.
There will be a JV contest at 2 p.m. in the SSHS Auxiliary Gym. The varsity game is at 4 p.m. in the Main Gym at SSHS.
KSST Radio will have the Sherman and Wildcats game at 4 p.m. with video and audio streaming. The game will be videotaped for replay later on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
2 Accused Of Credit Or Debit Card Abuse
Two Sulphur Springs residents were accused of credit or debit card abuse over the weekend, according to sheriff’s reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jason Lavender spotted Jonathan Wayne Smith standing behind a Honda at his rural Sulphur Springs residence and took him into custody Saturday, Nov. 21 on the warrant. The 23-year-old was booked into Hopkins County jail on the felony credit or debit card abuse warrant at 4:45 p.m. Nov. 21.
Smith was released from Hopkins County jail Sunday, Nov. 22, on a $10,000 bond on the warrant.
HCSO deputies received a tip a 28-year-old woman wanted on a credit or debit card abuse warrant could be found at a local motel. Deputy Kevin Lester and Sgt. Richard Greer went to the motel, where Heather Marie Anderson was located in a room as was reported.
Because she is pregnant, the woman’s handcuffed hands were placed in front of her instead of behind her, then she was transported at 4:08 p.m. Nov. 21 to Hopkins County jail. She was then transported to jail on the warrant; the offense was alleged to have occurred on Sept. 28, 2020,on FM 1567 east, according to arrest reports.
Anderson was released from the county jail Sunday, Nov. 22, on a $10,000 bond on the credit or debit card abuse charge, according to jail reports.
Commissioners Court Approves 2 Tax Incentives, Reinvestment Zone
Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved 2 tax incentives and a reinvestment zone for a planned solar farm, among other items, during the regular court meeting Monday morning.
My Perfect Pet Agreement
Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Roger Feagley asked the Commissioners Court to consider approving two Chapter 381 agreements.
First, Feagley told the court My Perfect Pet was requesting a 10-year Chapter 381 agreement. The gourmet dog food maker would, under the agreement, be required to pay taxes for the Sulphur Springs facility, then upon providing proof the business is meeting all terms of the agreement would be reimbursed for a total of 55 percent of the taxes for the business over the 10 years.
My Perfect Pet relocated its operations from a San Diego, California suburb to Sulphur Springs. The goal was to provide 30 new jobs to the area. However, according to Feagley, owner Karen Neola is having difficulty finding workers to fill all positions. Feagley said it was thought with the food industries in the area there would be plenty of food workers to apply to help make the USDA-quality foods, which are sent frozen for sale through distributors.
The court granted the requested 381 agreement for My Perfect Pet.
D6 Inc. Agreement
Feagley also noted the Commissioners Court was being asked to consider approving a Chapter 381 Agreement for D6 Inc., not for the entire operation but for the planned 25000 Square foot expansion at the facility.
D6 Inc. out of Portland, Oregon has purchased the building known locally as the old Coca-Cola building, but which was most recently been the location for S&S Commercial operations, where the business plans to make aluminum pie pans and Danish trays, including the plastic that goes on them. The business uses recycled aluminum and plastics. D6 Inc. also makes personal protective equipment, specifically plastic face shields.
The business plans to initially hire 30 individuals, pay taxes on the original building, but asked for a 381 agreement for the new building being constructed onsite. The business’ original plan was to hire 70 employees, but the agreement the court approved was for 30 employees. Feagley said the business is putting equipment in place in the building but isn’t fully operational yet, but has begun hiring employees. Like Neola, Feagley said D6 indicated the business is having a hard time filling positions.
Also, if all goes according to plan, D6 Inc. is planning another expansion in about 18 months, which would provide jobs for additional employees, with a goal of employing up to 90 total employees at the Sulphur Springs facility.
“They are hiring people. They are not up to 30 people yet,” Feagley noted.
The court approved the request.
Bright Arrow Solar Reinvestment Zone
During a public hearing for a request to establish a reinvestment zone for Bright Arrow Solar LLC, Feagley reported the new solar farm is planned off State Highway 11 west in Precinct 4, on three separate properties. The farm is estimated to be a $275 million project plus cost of batteries, upon approval of agreements for tax incentives, is anticipated to being construction in the second quarter of 2021 and with about 300 people working take about 18 months to construct.
Approval of a reinvestment zone will allow the hospital district at a future date consider granting a tax abatement for the solar project and allow the county in the future to approve a 381 agreement for the project as well.
“It seems as if all the solar projects will start at the same time. Do we have the work force for that?” Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker asked.
Feagley said it is his understanding currently most the planned solar projects — there are currently 4 in Hopkins County — are expected to get started in the next 6-10 months. The Pine Forest Solar project could begin as early as next month. Most have indicated to Feagley plans to begin in the first or second quarter of 2021, he noted.
The EDC director explained that the companies will bring in most of a the contract labor force, and will be filling local hotels, apartments, and places where travel trailers can park. Some may “spill over to Greenville” or other surrounding areas as well.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price said it was his understanding the Bright Arrow Solar project plans to construct a road through the property off of State Highway 11 west instead of using county roads like other project. He asked Feagley if that was his understanding as well, or if the Bright Arrow agreement would, like the other projects, include a fee for use of the county roads.
Feagley affirmed that was while the other projects, due to their locations do plan to use county roads, and have agreed to pay fees to help with maintenance on those roads due to heavy truck traffic during the construction process, the plan is to build a road off SH 11 west for Bright Arrow Solar. Road fees for other projects vary by project based on a number of factors, including investment and size of the property, and nameplate capacity — how much electricity will be generated. Those funds will be paid at the beginning of the project and first year and will go into a specially designated line item within the impacted precinct’s road and bridge fund for repair of the specific road used.
Barker asked if the Bright Arrow Solar project managers had contacted NETEX (North East Texas Rural Transportation District rail line through Northeast Texas).
“If it goes straight in they’ll have to,” Feagley replied.
Price asked what recourse the county would have if the company did use county roads to get to the solar farm after or if the right-of-way crossing agreements aren’t obtained to locate the road across the railroad. Feagley suggested potential ticketing.
Employment
Judge Robert Newsom noted that Friday Hopkins County was reported to have the lowest unemployment rate in the North East Texas region. He asked Feagley to brief the court on employment in the county, information the judge and EDC director had previously.
Feagley said there are jobs available in a variety of fields that have not been filled. The trick to lowering the unemployment rate is matching labor force to needs of employers. While the county’s unemployment rate is low, it’s still above last year’s rats of 2-3 percent.
While the EDC director has spoken with numerous employers, he cannot speak for all. However, most places have openings in a wide range of fields to be filled. BEF foods, local restaurants, My Perfect Pet, D6 Inc., welding and others.
“We want to let people know the jobs are out there, good jobs,” Newsom said.
Some of the jobs, like manufacturing jobs at D6 and BEF, create additional jobs at grocery stores and restaurants where those workers spend their money.
